😅

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"What the hell is going on here?" His cool deep voice resonated behind his scarf.

Everyone remained quiet as your new visitor continued to glare down everyone in the room. Securely tucked under his arm was a weeping Brûlée, who was sobbing so hard, even you felt bad for her. Katakuri loomed dangerously over his brothers in your bakery, and you watched as the color drained from their faces, though there wasn't much color to drain from Candyman.

"Well," Katakuri demanded, snapping you out of your thoughts.

Everyone in the bakery flinched from the harshness in his voice. It was at this time you were starting to understand how bad this situation was looking. You looked like you were about to cry, surrounded by his three brothers who were previously giving you looks of disapproval. No matter how you looked at it, you looked like a victim. Meaning the only person whose words would hold any meaning was yours. It was probably the reason no one had attempted to answer the question yet.

"Fine... If no one is going to talk then-" Katakuri marched over to Daifuku, but it was that motion that kicked your body into action.

"Kata! Wait!" You blurted out as you ran between Daifuku and him, arms spread wide in a pathetic attempt to stop him. "Please calm down before you do anything stupid!"

It was almost hysterical. You were spread like a starfish between two giants, both having large bounties on their heads, and you were trying to stop them from having a fight.

'This is definitely going on the 'dumbest things I've ever done' list' you internally face-palmed.

No one moved. To everyone who'd previously been in the bakery, you were out of your damn mind, facing Katakuri to protect Daifuku. You didn't even know him and he hadn't exactly given you the best first impression. Not only was it pointless, because Katakuri could easily still fight if that's what he wanted, but it was foolish and naïve. Yet, despite all these odds, Katakuri surprised everyone in that bakery. He slowly knelt down before you, placed down his sister, and looked directly into your determined (e/c) eyes.

"I see..." He muttered. "Then it can't be helped"

"I invited them in, so if you have an issue with it, it's me you'll have to address" You stated.

Katakuri Looked around the store gaging his siblings' reactions to confirm your statement. They must've been good because Katakuri visibly relaxed and his intimidating aura slowly dissipated into nothingness.

"I'll take your word for it. It's good to see you haven't changed (Y/n)" He nodded. "Still trying to look after others before thinking of your own situation"

"I wouldn't have to if everyone just took better care of themselves" you crossed your arms and puffed your cheeks. "Stop making it sound like I'm in the wrong here Kata"

Katakuri flushed a little from the nickname but it didn't stop him from letting out a low chuckle. The sound was so soothing you couldn't even stay mad at him. It really felt like you were good friends just having a casual conversation. The whole room just watched in awe as their brother, a man of few words, casually conversed with a little baker.

"(Y/n), have you completed the order we gave you?" Katakuri finally asked.

'...ARGH! THE PARFEITAROLES!' You panicked 'I was so preoccupied with talking to everyone I didn't get to finish the last-'

"Ah! W-Well I-!"

"Brother! We ate some of them" Daifuku explained. "We didn't realize it was part of the order for Mama"

"That's right!" Oven chimed in "They were delicious though, is that why you never shared those baskets?"

"How do you plan to fix this?" Katakuri effectively ignored his brothers question.

"Don't worry, our countries will simply cover for the food we ate" Daifuku claimed.

"...Then I'll leave it in your hands Daifuku" Katakuri straightened himself. "Oven, help Brulee carry the food out of here"

"Understood" Oven beamed as he made hugs way over to brûlée

You stared at Daifuku who simply ignored your inquisitive gaze . Oven chuckled and Perospero let out a tired sigh.

"Daifuku doesn't want to owe you for protecting him" Oven kindly and quietly informed as he walked past.

You gave and 'oh' look. 'Seems like doing things from the kindness of your heart is just none existent to Daifuku' you giggled with Oven.

Brûlée sat quietly in the corner no longer sniffing from when her brother had caught her. She watched as all her brothers mellowed out before you. It was absolutely unbelievable.

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Oven was amazing. He'd managed to pack and stock all your goods in just a few minutes. Brulee had reluctantly gone to deliver the goods to some henchmen on the other side of the mirror. She came back almost immediately.

Your attention snapped over to Persopero who had now seemed to regain his composure.

"Now that that's out of the way, we need to get back to the matter at hand pero-lick" he gave Katakuri a serious look "we need to take her to Mama"

Brûlée lit up at the thought of you having to face Mama. She would have the final say and Mama wouldn't be so easily swayed.

"Yes!" She chimed "she can't hide from Mama forever Shihihihi"

Katakuri remained quiet. He clearly wasn't amused by the thought of bringing you to Mama but it was inevitable. Then Katakuri gave you a very surprised but serious side glance.

"I'm not going to hide from her"

Your words hung in the air, to the point that you weren't even sure if they'd heard you.

"I'm going to see big Mom for myself" you continued "I'll go and talk to her whenever she's ready"

The bakery door almost flung off its hinges and all attention shifted to the figure now standing in your doorway.

'Please just enter my bakery normally'

"(Y/n)... Is everything ok?"

"Liv?" you gave a shocked look "Liv I'm fine"

'Why has my bakery suddenly become a hub for misunderstandings and clarifications?' you sighed 'Oh well, as long as I explain it should be fine'

"Oi lady, are you blind? The sign said closed, go home! This doesn't concern you" Daifuku growled.

'Sugar honey ice tea' you panicked 'Liv please ignore him and let me explain' you gave her a pleading look.

Alivia looked at you for a moment and smiled sweetly. She gave a small nod before opening her mouth to say something.

"What a sharp tongue" Katakuri muttered to himself.

"I just find it funny how my little sister is surrounded by a bunch of giant circus clowns in her bakery. Are you guys supposed to be some kind of joke? You definitely look the part" she hummed.

'Her pettiness will be the death of her... I just know it' You internally wept

"What did you say you little-!?" Daifuku fumed, clearly having enough of small people talking back to him.

"She's going to have a sudden change in her attitude" Katakuri held out his arm to stop his brother from advancing any further.

"Alivia! I invited them here!" you quickly grasped her hands and assured her you were alright "These are Big Mom representatives, we were just talking business"

"Business... Oh, you should have said so!" She beamed "I was just about to bring hell to earth, but if it's business you're doing here then there's no need. Let's talk business"

"We were just about to take (Y/n) to Big Mom pero-lick" Perospero informed.

"YOU WERE?!" Both you and Liv screeched.

"Isn't right now a bit sudden? Isn't your Mum busy? I'm not even dressed appropriately" you asked.

"It would make the most sense to take you now and get it out of the way. Besides, Mama is in a good mood so it would be hard for you to mess up" Katakuri informed.

'Is that another challenge?'

"You're not taking her" Alivia answered calmly. "I don't know who you guys are, what you have planned and quite frankly I don't trust you enough to leave (Y/n) in your care"

"You could come as well pero-lick"

"Let's go meet Big Mom!" She smiled

"How are you a businesswoman?" you sweatdropped.

Liv turned to face you with stardom glistening in her eyes "Just think of the deals we could make and the famous people I could get introduced to! The world still deserves to know my name"

'Whatever happened to we?'

"Yes" Katakuri stated

"So this is really happen- You have got to at least let me finish my sentence Kata" you laughed causing him to soften his gaze. "Alright I guess we're going to meet Big Mom then"

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[A little bit extra]

'It's pretty windy tonight' you thought to yourself as you gazed at the stars from the top of the treehouse.

Sleep wasn't really on your side tonight. Even though the day had been long and you wanted to sleep more than anything, your mind couldn't rest. You were too preoccupied with your own dangerous thoughts. This happened sometimes, and you were used to it by now. Lying awake in bed with the sound of your friends sleeping along with a few animal calls in the background. It was standard. From experience, the best remedy was to sneak outside, past your sleeping friends and the traps they set, to look at the stars. For some reason, the sight always put you at ease.

"Orion... Aquila... Lyra... Ursa major..." you recited the constellations.

"(Y/n)?" A sleepy voice called out "Is that you?"

"Yeah Sabo" you whispered back "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"Nah Luffy flung his arm into my stomach and woke me up" He sighed.

'That sounds exactly like something Luffy would do" You laughed.

It only took a second for Sabo to easily maneuvered his way up to stand in front of you. Even though it was dark the moon still illuminated everything enough to see clearly. Sabo was in his vest shorts and top hat.

"But more importantly, what are you doing up here by yourself?" Sabo asked.

"It's nothing to worry about, I just couldn't sleep is all" you smiled up at him. "You can go back to bed, I'll be down shortly"

Sabo gave you a doubtful look and you could feel his disapproval of the scenario emanating off of him. For a moment, you thought you were going to have to convince him further but then he just turned around and jumped back down into the treehouse.

'He could've at least said night' you sighed before turning your gaze to the sky again.

The sky remained exactly as you'd left it so you continued to look for more pictures in the sky. That was until you heard a lot of rustling beneath you. A scream almost left your mouth when Sabo jumped up out in front of you again. Even though you didn't scream, you let out a painful mewl as your head flung back in surprise causing you to head-but the tree trunk you were leaning against.

"Ah! (Y/n)! Are you ok?" Sabo whisper-shouted in concern

"Owowowow, I-I'm fine" you whimpered clutched your head.

"Don't lie so easily (Y/n)" Sabo sighed. "Isn't that what you tell us"

Sabo was making a valid point but your head wasn't really cooperating with you right now so you couldn't really respond.

*Flutter*

Blinking in surprise you finally faced Sabo who was currently wrapping a blanket around you.

"Let me see" Sabo whispered

Without warning, he removed your hands from your head and carefully inspected the damage that may have been caused. His hands brushed over your scalp and you winced slightly when he came across your sore spot.

"It's only a small bruise, you should be fine" he informed as he continued to rub that specific area in a soothing manner. "If it still hurts later I'll get some ice"

"Thanks, Sabo, you didn't have to" you flushed from embarrassment.

"No problem" he smiled as he sat next to you and got comfortable. "I'll stay here with you until you fall asleep. I know you'd do the same for us" he adjusted his hat and gave you a confident smile.

You couldn't help but smile back at him. Both of you grinned at each other before turning your attention back to the sky as you sat quietly in the moonlight. The stars were no longer your only form of company. Sabo was always the most understanding of the three so you relaxed more when you were with him.

"So do you want to tell me what's going on?" Sabo gazed at the sky

"Why would you think something's going on?" you looked at him

"Recently you've been a bit out of it, and you haven't been sleeping properly. Ace and Luffy may not have noticed but I'm not them. What's wrong (Y/n)?"

'Of course, Sabo would figure out something was wrong' you remained quiet. 'Always so observant'

"Sabo?"

"yeah?"

"You grew up in grey terminal right?"

"...Yeah"

"Did you ever know who your parents were?"

Sabo didn't answer his eyes were covered by the rim of his hat. Clearly, this wasn't a topic he wanted to discuss, and you respected that.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I was 2 years old when the orphanage found me, I have no memory of my parents or why they left me" you sighed. "I was most likely a mistake that they wanted to get rid of just like all the other orphans say, but despite that, deep down inside me I want to know who they were, where I came from, and why they left me?"

Sabo still remained quiet but you could tell that he was listening very carefully.

"I come out here because the stars remind me that maybe we aren't so far away. The seas always change but the stars never move. We'll always look up at the same sky, and I guess that makes me feel like I'm closer to them"

You finally breathed now that you'd gotten everything off your chest. Just saying it all out loud allowed you to relax a little more and help clear your thoughts. Sabo watched you as you finally let go of the problems you'd been bottling up for so long.

"Is that everything?" Sabo asked.

You gave a small nod as you wrapped the blankets tighter around you.

"Well, I think that the first thing to clarify is that you're not a mistake?!" Sabo stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Sabo..." you whispered.

He took off his hat and placed it on your head.

"You're (Y/n)! The nicest person I know. And you're friends with Sabo, Ace, and Luffy. You're that crazy old man's granddaughter and Dandan's favorite kid. You are irreplaceable to us, and that doesn't sound like a mistake to me" He smiled.

"Secondly, Your parents don't determine who you are" Sabo took your hand and drew circles on the back of your hand with his thumb. "If that was the case Luffy would be in the Navy and they'd be doomed"

You both giggled at the thought of Luffy being a Navy soldier. It was impossible.

"Finally, You're not alone" Sabo squeezed your hand reassuringly "It's ok to have these questions, but don't bottle them up because you're afraid to worry us. Don't forget that I've got you're back."

You realized now why Sabo had given you his hat. You clenched the rim with your free hand and pulled it over your face to hide the huge tears that were falling down. Sabo just continued to rub your hand reassuringly. occasionally commenting that 'tears don't suit you' or 'the old man would kill me if he saw you like this.' You couldn't exactly place the time you fell asleep on him but you knew it would've been the early hours of the morning. And you figured Sabo must've drifted along the way.

You'd both fallen asleep, Sabo's hat firmly on your head, both of you wrapped up in blankets and cuddling up to each other for warmth. When Ace found the pair of you, he was not impressed at all. Luffy on the other hand just went to jump between the two of you in an attempt to steal all your attention. In short, it was a very typical morning, and you were glad that you were alive to see it.

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❤️😵